Conte: Napoli 'too busy trying to be pretty' in Torino defeat

Antonio Conte believed Napoli gifted Torino three precious Serie A points after his forward line were "too busy trying to be pretty" in the final third.

Conte watched on as Giovanni Simeone's first-half goal at Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino dealt the defending champions just their second league defeat of the campaign. 

Indeed, Napoli have now lost two of their last three Serie A games, as many defeats as they suffered in the previous 31 in the top-flight (W20 D9).

Their defeat saw them replaced at the summit of the standings by Inter, who beat Roma 1-0 later in the day thanks to Ange-Yoan Bonny's goal in the sixth minute of the match. 

Napoli registered an expected goals (xG) total of 1.83 from their 22 shots, though only five were on target, compared to Torino's 1.97 from their 12 attempts in the contest. 

"We moved the ball well and created situations in the first half, but were too busy trying to be pretty, and basically we created their goal for them," Conte told DAZN Italia.

"There was more energy after the break, but not enough. So congratulations to Torino, but the fact is we did it all ourselves today."

But Napoli's current form has come as no surprise to Conte, who continues to play down their chances of retaining the Scudetto this campaign. 

Following their latest result, the Opta supercomputer hands them an 18.6% probability of lifting the title, second to only Inter's 36.6%. 

"I had said at the start of the season that I know football well, so I assumed these were perfectly normal things to say. We are building something new here," Conte added. 

"We've got to work well, and our season will depend on how the new arrivals grow and improve.

"We have a game every three days, we do not have time to work in training, so we've got to improve every time and have patience before seeing those improvements."

But Conte was quick to point out his concerns in defence after Billy Gilmour's error allowed Simeone to steal in and round Vanja Milinkovic-Savic and score. 

They have now conceded seven goals in their last five Serie A games, one less than they had managed in their previous 15 matches in the top flight. 

"We conceded the goal that we created, so that was nothing to do with the defence," Conte said. 

"We've always got to work as a team. Unfortunately, today there was that ricochet that accidentally came off Gilmour – who had a great game overall – and it set up Simeone.

"Our football sees us constantly in the opposition half, so it's natural there will be a few counter-attacks, and we need to get used to that.

"I don't remember seeing defensive problems, we've got to start accepting there will be duels, and we must do better."